Dublin MEP hits back at Clinton flotilla comments

Friday, June 24, 2011 - 12:16 pm

Dublin’s Socialist MEP Paul Murphy has today condemned US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for comments she made yesterday criticising the attempts by the Gaza Flotilla II to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

Ms Clinton said yesterday: "We do not believe that the flotilla is a necessary or useful effort to try to assist the people of Gaza.

"And we think that it's not helpful for there to be flotillas that try to provoke actions by entering into Israeli waters and creating a situation in which the Israeli's have the right to defend themselves," she added."

Mr Murphy responded today by saying: "it is not true that we will be entering Israeli waters. We will be sailing through Gaza waters.

"Our intention is humanitarian, to break the illegal blockade and deliver vital humanitarian supplies to the people of Gaza. It is the comments and actions of the Israeli military which is provocative.

"Ms Clinton’s comments are disgraceful. She has essentially given the green light to Israeli Defence Forces to use violence against participants in the flotilla.

"She has ignored the reasoning behind the need for such a mission, the criminal and illegal blockade of Gaza, resulting in enormous suffering for the Palestinian masses."